Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-11-26
Lifting a nurse. Come on.


waits grand dinner On the way to the
station house with an officer.
A curious crowd of street boys, news
paper vendors, bootblacks and the like
followed the policeman and his two little
prisoners to the station house.
His honor was taking dinner; would not
hold court today, and the two waits were
put into q comfortable cell upstairs.
Rags cried herself to sleep, while Bot
ties, hero like, sat by her side upon the
cot and kept cheering her up by telling
her that it would be all right in the
morning.
And down stairs, under lock and key,
the unlucky purse and ring were lying in
the desk drawer.
Next
The two waits, Bottles and Rags, were
pushed forward until they stood in front
of the desk before his honor.
ttBless me- what's thls9 Little ones,
what are you doing hese2'' asked the kind
faced judge, beaming down upon the pair,
through set of gold bowed glasses.
Bottles knew it was not proper for him
to speak, and Rags could not.
'0fficer what is the charge against this
pair?'' asked the judge of the. policeman
who had made the arrest.
Stealing purse, your honor"
"Ah! that is q serious charge"
but, sir, It ain't''---
'Never mind, my little man; your turn
will come. Let the party who made the
complaint stand forward"
A tall man, clad in clerical garments,
with long drawn yisage, stepped for
ward The corners of his trap like
mouth were drawn down in a
most solemn expression. He clasped
his hands in front of him, and turned
his eyes upon the little waits, as though
even their presence was unholy to his
cloth
''Your nane?'' uttered the judge.
''Rey. Abraham Clearstarch.n
Bottles could hardly hold in the litter,
which, Notwithstanding the solemnity of
the occasion, was ready to bubble from
his lips.
you are Il minister, are you nots"
The reverend gentlemen bowed.
Mr. Clearstarch, you may state your
case in as few words as possible"
Eyes, sir. Day before yesterday after
noon, purchased ring for my daughter.
put the ring into my purse, and walked
down to India wharf upon business.
Upon returning to my hotel I found that
my purse was gone. / retraced my steps;
but to no avail; I could not find my
purse Yesterday afternoon at dinner III
the hotel where I was stopping l saw
the ring upon the finger of this girl.
l recognized the ring, and knew
ct once that she must know of the
purse. l left the dining room, found an
officer and had him make the arrest. The
girl picked my pocket
''Sure of that, Mr. Clearstarchrf asked
his honor.
''She must have done SO. I certainly
could not have lost it." responded the
reverend gentleman.
Twas the purse and ring found upon
the person of the culprit9" asked the judge
of the officer.
''The ring was upon the girls finger,
the purse in the boys pocket"
''Bad case. Now, my little man, tell
your story"
''If you please, sir, I'm only boy,
rough and all that, sir. 1 swear sum-
times and-naybe you wouldn't believe
me. She'll tell you all bout it. You
see, she's only little girl what hain't
got no friend in all the world but Bottles
Bottles is me, sir. Rags is her name.
She never swears and-she never picked
his pockets | know that, cause I'm her
father, you see"
Bottles had found his tongue and he de-
ivered the foregoing in a straightforward
way, which made the judge smile good
naturally.
''Now, Rags, tell it all. Don't be
feared. The gospel sharp can't hurt us, u
whispered Bottles to the trembling girl by
his side
With frequent sobs and choking excla-
nations Rags told her story, which you
already know. She also told how good
Bottles had been to her; how he had often
gone without anything to eat SO that she
should have food. In all, she gave faith
full picture OF the peculiar life which
surrounded the pair. The judge was as
sured of her truth, and after she had
ceased, he said:
cts evident that the girl has told what
is true. Is there any one in the room &C
quainted with the pair?'' A sleek, fat,
jolly looking man stepped forward and
said:
II know them, your honor. keep a
butcher shop down in South street. A
newsboy came and told me last night that
Bottles and Rags had been arrested. Your
honor, stand here to say, from the bot
tom of my heart, that 1 know both OF
them to be honest, square and upright.
They are unfortunate children of the
street who make an honest living
hope your honor won't be hard on the two
poor little kids"
"They are both discharged. Mr.. Clear
starch, you will get your purse and ring OF
the clerk. One thing more-you'n not find
the whole amount. The cashier of the Craw-
ford restaurant just sent me note, tell
ing how the two little unfortunates en-
joyed their Thanksgiving dinner at his
place yesterday. Of course, having re-
covered your property, you will willingly
donate that dinner for charity's sake.
Next"
The Rev. Abraham Clearstarch got his
purse and ring, and went on his way.
And Bottles and Rags found in kindly
stranger who had been present friend in
whom philanthropy was largely devel-
oped. The pair are, this day of Thanks
giving, eating noble dinner at home in
one Of our great western states.
AT last the two waits, Bottles and Rags,
are safely harbored from the sterner blows
of poyerty.-H. S. Keller in Commercial
Travellers Magazine.